Well, Robledo wins the bet. During the fourth quarter he texted me to give him the score. After I told him Bishop Amat was winning 21-10 he asked, “I hope you look good in blue.”

Sometime next week, I’ll wear a Bishop Amat hat to work and we’ll post the photo on both blogs. That’s what I get for thinking St. Francis would win.

But in all honesty, the Golden Knights had a chance but they committed some key mistakes that helped Bishop Amat keep some drives alive.

The Lancers wasted no time to start the second half that practically spelled the end of a magical run for St. Francis on Friday night.

Lancers QB Jerry McClanahan connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass to Jay Anderson with 8:21 left in the third quarter as Bishop Amat pulled away from the host Golden Knights en route to a 28-13 victory in front of a standing-room only crowd in a showdown that pitted the two best teams in the San Gabriel Valley.

McClanahan led Bishop Amat (5-1), completing 11 of 16 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, including a 19-yard score to Joshua Tierney with 5:08 left in the half. That score gave the Lancers the lead for good as they headed into halftime with 14-10 advantage.

Neither team got off to the best of starts.

St. Francis (5-1) quarterback Justin Sciarra’s first pass was incomplete and his second pass was intercepted by Adam Barrera to put the ball at the Golden Knights’ 29.

Anderson carried the ball on the first play for Bishop Amat, but was met at the line of scrimmage and tackled for a 5-yard loss by Dietrich Riley.

McClanahan fumbled, but the Lancers recovered and were forced to punt on fourth-and-13 at St. Francis’ 32.

Sciarra completed 6 of 16 passes for 192 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
He connected on an 80-yard touchdown pass to Malik Speed with 7:47 left in the first quarter. But it was the second and third effort by Speed that accounted for the score, as he averted two ankle tackles.

The Lancers scored on Anderson’s 12-yard run with 10:43 left in the second quarter.

“Coach Hagerty has done an outstanding job getting that program to where it once was. We had our hands full. We got up on them early with some trickery, but they just had some big plays and we weren’t able to stop them.”
Riley was slowed after the first quarter. He had nine carries for 35 yards and caught two passes, including a 48-yard reception.

Speed caught three passes for 121 yards.

Bishop Amat could have pulled away in the first half but two shoestring tackles stopped Anderson and Gaisie.

UCLA-bound Isiah Bowens returned for the first time since sitting out because of injuries.
Bowens, a senior, had two key sacks that knocked the wind out of St. Francis’ sail with 4:14 left in the fourth quarter.

“For us to kind of take them out a little bit and make them one-dimensional and force them to throw the ball at the end, I thought, that was key to the game.”

Above: Bishop Amat’s Josh Tierney catches a 19-yard touchdown pass from QB Jerry McClanahan in the second quarter to give the Lancers a 14-10 lead

Friday’s Results with my thoughts

Bishop Amat 28, St. Francis 13 — The game was close to start but the Lancers pulled away in the second half and proved just how good they really are. Jay Anderson was impressive as was Deshawn Gaisie and Isaiah Bowens. Dietrich Riley and Justin Sciarra were kept in check by a stout defensive unit.

Monrovia 13, Temple City 7 — This game turned out to be closer than I thought.

Arcadia 24, Pasadena 13 — No way the Bulldogs would have pulled the upset. The Apaches are more disciplined. Oh, and they have this guy named Todd Golper.

Muir 47, Burbank 7 — Coach Kenny Howard said he wanted to make a statement and the Mustangs may have finally done that tonight. Muir needed to win big time to erase doubts.

San Marino 31, South Pasadena 7 — It’s highly likely the Titans won’t be challenged until they face Monrovia in the final game of the season, which could very well be the game that decides the Rio Hondo League title.

Arroyo 16, Gabrielino 13 — Arroyo earned its first win of the season. Gabrielino held a brief lead but in the end couldn’t hang on. Never sure which team will ever show up.

Schurr 38, Alhambra 24 — How did I know this would happen?

San Gabriel 35, Keppel 0 — What a yawner.

Verbum Dei 28, La Salle 7 — The Lancers offense continues to struggle. La Salle has had a few games to adjust and get its offense together.

La Canada 33, Blair 0 — I know Gary Parks doesn’t want to think of it this way, but it’s a rebuilding year over on Marengo.

Maranatha 34, Kilpatrick 28, OT — I hope Joel Murphy has a good insurance plan. The Minutemen keep making too close for Murphy’s liking.

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